Wristwatch with removable middle-bezel

ABSTRACT

A wristwatch having a removable middle-bezel unit in which the middle-bezel is secured to the watchcase by means of a locking ring. The middle-bezel is provided with grooves and the locking ring has shoulders which by rotation, engage the grooves of the middle-bezel in a bayonet-type joint. A spring is interposed between the case and the ring, which surrounds the case and includes portions shaped in the form of loops for attaching a wristlet.

United States Patent Inventors Luc Tissot;

Gerard Cachelin, both of Le-Locle, Switzerland Appl. No. 845,726

Filed July 29, 1969 Patented June 8, 1971 Assignee Fabrique dhorlogerie Chs. Tissot et Fils S.

A. LeLocle, Switzerland Priority Aug. 9, 1968 Switzerland 12041/68 WRISTWATCH WITH REMOVALBE MIDDLE- BEZEL 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 58/91 Int. Cl....... G04b 39/00 Field of Search 58/88 (W),

88 (WSTC), 91,102

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,559,238 7/1951 Wallin 58/88Wstc 3,165,884 1/1965 Gwinner et al. 58/88W FOREIGN PATENTS 349,222 1 1/1960 Switzerland 58/88Wstc 407,884 9/1966 Switzerland 5 8/ 88W Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT: A wristwatch having a removable middle-bezel unit in which. The middle-bezel is secured to the watchcase by means of a locking ring. The middle-bezel is provided with grooves and the locking ring has shoulders which by rotation, engage the grooves of the middle-bezel in a bayonet-type joint. A spring is interposed between the case and the ring, which surrounds the case and includes portions shaped in the form of loops for attaching a wristlet.

PATENTEB JUN 8 Ian X l J Haz- 1 WRlSTWATCl-l WITH REMOVALBE MlDDLE-BEZEL This invention relates to Wristwatches. More particularly it relates to Wristwatches fitted with a removable middle-bezel unit.

it has already been proposed to make Wristwatches with interchangeable middle-bezels, in which the latter bears axially on the outside of the case under the pulling force of a wristlet made of one piece and running under the watch through loops or lugs integral with the removable unit.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wristwatch wherein the middlebezel is secured to the case by novel assembly means, which enables an easy replacement of a middle-bezel with one having a different shape or configuration.

More particularly, in accordance with the invention, the middle-bezel is secured to the case by means of a locking ring having two shoulders which, by rotation, engage in a bayonettype joint, two lateral grooves provided in the middle-bezel. The arrangement further comprises a spring surrounding the case, interposed between the ring and the middlebezel, and forming two loops for attaching a wristlet.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing which illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, taken along line l-l.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along line ll-ll of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rear of the watch.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that the wristwatch as illustrated, comprises a single-shell case 1 which houses a movement 2 secured thereto by means of an encircling ring 3. The case 1 carries a dial 4 and a glass 5 and is provided with a circular shoulder 16.

Disposed on the case and secured thereto, as explained in detail below, is an interchangeable middle-bezel 6 which is provided with a lateral U-shaped recess 7 for the passage of a sleeve 8 in which is slidably mounted a winding stem (not shown) and with two additional recesses 9 and 10, the width of which slightly exceeds the width of the wristlet. Each of the two nonrecessed portions 6a and 6b of the middle-bezel is provided with a rectangular groove 12 for securing the middlebezel to the case by means of a bayonet-type joint arrangement. The latter comprises a locking ring 13 disposed around the lower part of the case and provided along its periphery with two shoulders 14 and 15 which, upon rotation, fit into grooves 12.

Between the ring 13 and the shoulder 16 there is disposed a convex spring 17 closed on itself and forming two loops l8 and 19 for securing the wristlet 11, the portion of the spring forming the loops being arched perpendicularly to the plane of the ring so as to press the ring axially against a side of the grooves [2. Locking is achieved by one of the pins 20 or 20 formed by bent portions of cutouts made in the shoulders 14 and 15, which engage the recess 7 of the middle-bezel.

It is to be noted that means could be included for an accurate positioning of spring 17, for example by providing itwith shallow notches cooperating'with suitable embossments on the case or, conversely, by embossments on the spring cooperating with notches on shoulder 16.

The interchangeable middle-bezel and the locking ring 13 may be made of any material of sufficient strength. An assembly constituted in this manner is extremely reliable, making it possible for the middle-bezel to be easily replaced with one having a different shape and configuration.

The spring 17 may be slit and adapted to grip the case thereby facilitating the placing of the middle-bezel and locking ring 13.

The ring 13, in addition, may carry suitable notches or the like, or else have an edge that would afford a grip to conventional tools, such as used for screwing on the back cover of the case.

Although the invention has been described with respect to one embodiment thereof, it is clear that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

What I claim is:

l. A wristwatch comprising in combination a case, a movement contained in said case, a dial, a glass, a middle-bezel provided with circumferentially disposed radial grooves, said middle-bezel being secured to said case by means of a locking ring having two circumferentially spaced shoulders adapted to engage in said grooves, by rotary movement, in a bayonet-type joint, and spring means surrounding said case and located between said ring and said case, said spring means including two portions each shaped in the form of a loop for attaching a wristlet.

2. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said middlebezel is provided with a U-shaped recess accommodating the insertion of a winding stem sleeve.

3. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of said ring includes a projection adapted to engage a recess in said middlebezel to lock said ring in position.

4. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said recess is the U-shaped recess of claim 2. 

1. A wristwatch comprising in combination a case, a movement contained in said case, a dial, a glass, a middle-bezel provided with circumferentially disposed radial grooves, said middle-bezel being secured to said case by means of a locking ring having two circumferentially spaced shoulders adapted to engage in said grooves, by rotary movement, in a bayonet-type joint, and spring means surrounding said case and located between said ring and said case, said spring means including two portions each shaped in the form of a loop for attaching a wristlet.
 2. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said middle-bezel is provided with a U-shaped recess accommodating the insertion of a winding stem sleeve.
 3. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion of said ring includes a projection adapted to engage a recess in said middle-bezel to lock said ring in position.
 4. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said recess is the U-shaped recess of claim
 2. 